Category Archives: News 2015

For the 30th birthday, TEDDY is getting a retroperspective in the context of Berlinale. A view of the ultimate shining stars from the history of queer cinema will be shown on the Berlin International Film Fest. Movies like “Different From The Others” by Richard Oswald or modern classics like “Watermelon Woman” by Cheryl Dunye.

TEDDY becomes 30…..and looks back to a past full of funny, tragic, embarassing, happy and moving moments. Short facts: the first TEDDY got awarded in 1987 by Wieland Speck, director of Panorama nowadays. Back then, he sent a plush-teddy from the departement store to the first award winners Gus van Sant and Pedro Almodóvar, who received the prize by post and with great pleasure.

Attention for queer movies and visibility of queer life was lacking and founding an award seemed a good way to get some.

In the beginning the jury was the audience; everyone who has watched each single movie was enabled to vote. The professional jury was founded in 1997 and ARTE started broadcasting the award show in 2006.

In the mid 90’s TEDDY AWARD officially got acknowleged as a prize of the Berlinale. So a lot has happened in all these years and according to the 30th Birthday we take a look back, but also face the presence and the future of TEDDY. We talk to TEDDY AWARD winners, friends and supporters in interviews and panel discussions….and especially we are looking forward to the birthday party, where we will be ready to rumble with you. Like the kids in Moonrise Kingdom (except the beach is missing)

We did an Skype-Interview with Daniel Ribeiro, who won an TEDDY for his film “The Way He Looks” in 2014. He is talking about the current situation of minorities in Brazil, how the TEDDY helped his film, queer film productions in Brazil, how movies can change the way people think and why the TEDDY should remain at least for the next 90 years….oh and he is sending birthday wishes… check it out!!

Preparations are in full swing and the 30th TEDDY AWARDS are about to commence. In context of the International Film Festival Berlin 2016, the most important queer film award worldwide will once again be presented in three categories, comprising best short, best documentary and best feature film. We are looking forward to exciting interviews, panel discussions, parties and a lot of great movies. The award show, to be presented in STATION BERLIN on February 19th, will provide a concluding highlight to complete the TEDDY AWARDS of 2016. Additionally, the TEDDY AWARDS’ 30th anniversary will offer a special occasion we would love to celebrate with you in connection to the Award Show. Tickets for the Show and the Party are available now in advance.

The TEDDY AWARD honours filmmakers who make queer contents accessible to a larger audience and thereby contribute tolerance, acceptance and equality to society. Accordingly, the TEDDY are conceived as an accolade of political and social dedication, which endeavours to return queer filmmaking from the fringes to the center of society, aiming to create attention and make it more visible to both film industry and a wider audience.